Book IV. M Y S T E R Y B A B Y L 0 N. being at that Ti me in the very Meridian of its Greatnefs, and univerfal Sovereignty : Luke ii. r. And it came to pafs in thofe Days, that there came out a D<cree from Crefar Augu!1:us,. that all the .Worldjhould be ta'!ed.. . . . . (+) T illS Man of Srr, Myftery of Imqurty, or Head ot thrs Baby!onifh State, rs faid to be let or hindered in his Defigns: He that now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the Way, 2 'J'hejj: ii. 7. But now Rome Heathen had no Lett or Hinderance, either from the Word of God, for that declared Jt, as Jt was a CIVil Magrftracy, to be God's Ordinance; nor from any oppofite Power, either Civil or Military, they giving Laws to the greateft Part of the World, and enjoying the fupreme Government of the bell: Kingdo!TIS in the Univerfe, none being able to cope with them at that Time. (S· ) This Head of the Babyfonifh State is faid to fit in the 'J'emple of God, which the P ower of Rome Heathen did not do, neither in the Temple of Jerufalem, nor in the Church, which is more properly the Temple of God: For the Jews kept the Pof– fellion of the lireral Temple, rill it was deftroyed; and for the Church of God, the Hearhen Emperors never loved it fo well, as to make their Refidence in it. But the BiOwp of Rome, before he lhewed himfelf to be that wicked One, viz. the Man of Sin, did evidently fit in the Church or Temple of God, and fo fulfilled this Prophecy in the very Letter of it. · (6.) H e, that is, the Man of Sin, or Head of this Babylonifh State, was to rife by Apoltacy, or falling away from the Chri!l:ian Religion : 2 'J'hejf. ii. 3· '!'herejhal! come a falling away jirjl ; exaEtly agreeing with another Prophecy to the fame Purpofe, 1 'J'im. iv. r. Now tbe Spirit Jpeaketh expr4Jly, that in the latter 'J'imes fame jha!l depart from the Faith, &c. But Rome Heathen did not rife by A poftacy from the Chri(tian R eligion, or a departing from the .Faith, which they never profelfed, as is evident to the whole World: Ergo, Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonifh State. (7.) This Man of Sin, or Head of My!1:ery Babyl011, lay hid i~ the Apo!l:le's Time, and was not revealed: But the Power of Rome Heathen did not then lie hid, or wanted to be revealed; for it ftood vioble and high, upon a Hill, even upon feven Hills, 2 'l'hejf. ii. 3· Re·v. xvii. 9· according to the Roman Poet Ovid, who lived about the very Time of Chrift's being on Earth, in Lib. de 'J'rijlibus. Sed qiu: de feptem totum circumjpicit Orbem Montibus, Imperii Roma, Deiimq; Locus. That is, But Rome, which from her feven Hills the whole Earth views around, the Place of Gods, and Rule, &c. Ergo, Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonifh State. (8.) This My!1:ery of Iniquity is faid to oppofe and exalt himfelfabove all that is called God, or that is wor01ipped, 2 'Thejf. ii. 4· But this the Power of Rome in its Heathen State did not do; for they worlhipped, offered Sacrifices, and bore a Reverence to their Gods, which by Nature indeed were no Gods; and it is only the Head of Rome P apal, that runs down all Gods but thofe of his own making; Ergo, Rome Papal, and not Rome Heathen, mull: of neceffity be rhis My!1:ery of Iniquity. (9.) The Rife or coming of this M yftery of Iniquity, is after the Working of Satan, 2 'Tbef!. ii. 9· But the Rife of the Romilh Greatnefs and Power, when Heathen, was not after the Working of Satan, but was faid by Daniel, Chap. vii. 2, 3· to be pro– duced by the Providence of God, or the four \J\finds of H eaven; and by the Apo!1:le, <o be Powers ordained of God, Ram. xiii. 1. therefore, Rome Heathen cannot be the My!1:ery of Iniquity, &c. here meant. ( IO.) This My!1:ery of Iniquity is not only faid to come after the Working of Sata11, 2 'l'hejf. ii. 9· but alfo with all Power, &c. But the Rife of Rome Heathen was not afrer that Manner: Ergo, &c. To illu!1:rate the fir!1: Propootion, note, That the Term, d/1 Power, marks out the Romilh Pope fo notorioufiy, that whofoever runs may read it ; for if we do but impartially confider his impudent Ufurpations Olpon crowned Heads, and his Pretences of Supremacy over the whole Chri!l:ian World; his proud imperious Decrees, Bulls, &c. his Difpofal of the Kingdoms of Princes, and the Inheritances, yea, the very Lives of private Perfons, of any Rank, that dare' difobey him; his Pretences to lhut and open Heaven, Hell, and his feigned Purgato– ry; his carrying a Symbol of that vaft and God-like Power, viz. a Brace of Keys 10 H hangina:
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